KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LUBBOCK – Former 321st District Court Judge for Smith County Carole Clark was severely injured in a car crash while returning to Texas from a trip to New Mexico recently. According to our news partner KETK, current 321st District Court Judge Robert Wilson said that Clarke was traveling with her husband AD, when their vehicle crashed and he was killed. The crash left Clarke with broken ribs and a head injury. Wilson said Clark is currently being treated for her injuries at a hospital in Lubbock.

Clark was first elected as 321st District Court Judge for Smith County in 2010. She was re-elected in 2014 after winning that year’s Republican Primary and she left office when her second term ended in 2018.

LONGVIEW — A tripped circuit breaker sparked a house fire Saturday evening, prompting a response from the Longview Fire Department. Crews were dispatched around 7:32 p.m. to a reported fire at 202 Margo Street after residents reported that they circuit breaker had tripped, followed by a burning smell in the home. Upon arrival, firefighters found a fire in the ceiling and attic area of the home, according to our news partner KETK.

Crews quickly extinguished the fire, which was in its early stages. No injuries were reported. Three occupants were displaced after power to the home was shut off. Officials estimated property damage to be $15,000.

Fire officials reminded residents to report electrical issues, such as frequent circuit breaker trips, and to have electrical systems inspected when problems arise.

LONGVIEW – After East Texas was hit by a winter storm on Saturday morning, the Longview Police Department provided an update on what residents should expect moving into Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, although road conditions have not been as bad as expected, residents should be advised that conditions will likely worsen as the storm continues into tomorrow

As freezing temperatures will continue into the night, Brown said that the Longview Exhibit Center will remain open as a warming center until 7 p.m. The Salvation Army and Highway 80 Rescue Mission have also opened their facilities as warming centers to the general public.

“Stay at home to the best of your abilities unless you have a major reason why you need to leave,” Brown said. “The fewer people we have on the road, the less likely we are to have accidents and crashes.”

EAST TEXAS — Extreme cold and ice buildup are causing power outages across multiple counties after the winter storm moved through the area. Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of counties from the Texas power outage map, and as of 4:02 a.m. on Monday, about 35,811 customers were without power. You can view that list here.

SMITH COUNTY — Drivers are urged to take extra precautions as icy conditions have developed on roadways. According to our news partners at KETK and the National Weather Service, the following tips can help people travel safely in icy conditions:

Slow down. Even at low speeds, ice can cause your vehicle to lose traction and slide.
Increase following distance. Leave plenty of space between you and the car ahead in case of sudden braking. Continue reading Winter driving tips

TYLER – Several flights for the weekend across East Texas have been cancelled or delayed. According to our news partner KETk and American Eagle Airlines, all American Airlines flights scheduled to depart from the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport have been cancelled due to incoming severe weather. The airline said it has not yet decided on the status of Sunday’s flights and will continue to monitor the weather. The East Texas Regional Airport in Longview, has cancelled all flights scheduled for Saturday and Sunday morning. The airport said it will continue to monitor the weather to decide the status of flights scheduled for Sunday afternoon and Monday.

TYLER – Due to inclement weather, City of Tyler offices and facilities will be closed Saturday, Jan. 24 through Monday, Jan. 26. Essential and emergency functions will continue.

The City of Tyler will monitor weather conditions to determine if offices will open at regular businesses hours or at a later time on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an Ice Storm Warning from Friday through Sunday along with an Extreme Cold Warning for the Tyler area until Monday at noon. Ice is expected with some sleet and snow mixed in over the weekend. If travel is necessary, use caution and be aware of possible ice and slick spots on area roads.

All City of Lufkin business offices will also be closed on Monday for the safety of our employees and the public. Emergency services will continue to operate as needed. City officials encourage residents to stay warm, monitor official weather updates, and use caution if travel is necessary. Continue reading City offices closed

MARSHALL – TSTC’s Marshall campus will close at 2 p.m. on Friday, due to anticipated winter weather. Online classes will continue as scheduled. Employees will work remote. You can monitor TSTC’s social media and webpage for updates.

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Judge Neal Franklin issued a Disaster Declaration for Smith County on Friday, January 23, 2026, ahead of the winter storm.

Smith County emergency management officials have been working this week to prepare for road closures and power outages as much as they can.

“I have declared a disaster in Smith County, following the Governor’s Declaration,” Judge Franklin said. “Doing this now allows emergency management officials to respond quickly to any issues that arise during the disaster and to ask for aid when needed.”
Continue reading Disaster Declaration issued

LONGVIEW – Due to incoming inclement weather, CHRISTUS Health Urgent Care in Longview, West Loop 281 and Toler Road, is closed for the weekend. Telehealth visits remain available for non-emergency medical needs. Also closing are CHRISTUS Pediatric Clinic in Tyler closed Saturday and CHRISTUS Urgent Care Sulphur Springs: Closed Saturday and Sunday. Officials ask if your experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. CHRISTUS anticipate reopening on Monday, January 26 at 8 a.m. To access CHRISTUS Health telehealth, and find “start on demand care.”

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Jury Duty has been cancelled for Monday. If you received a jury summons for January 26, you do NOT have to report to the Courthouse, the District Clerk’s Office announced. Smith County officials are monitoring the weather and will announce at a later time whether non-emergency county offices will be closed Monday.

LONGVIEW – The Longview ISD broke ground on their new Early Childhood Learning Center Thursday. Our news partner KETK reports that the new center will be built on the site of Jodie McClure Elementary with around $61.8 million in voter-approved bond funds. The multi-building facility would house thirty classrooms, a library, a kitchen and a gymnasium. The 79,000-square-foot facility will house pre-kindergarten children between the ages of four-years-old and just six weeks old.

EAST TEXAS — Due to the winter storm and freezing temperatures this weekend, several community events and high school sports have been cancelled or postponed . Our news partner KETK has a running list – you can find it here. To see the list for Monday school closings, click here.

LONGVIEW — The City of Longview hosted their annual Homeless Resource Day on Thursday at the Longview Exhibit Center, bringing together service providers and volunteers to support the city’s unhoused population. According to our news partner KETK, the event connected attendees with critical resources, allowing individuals to access services on-site or to enroll in assistance programs. Organizations unable to offer direct services participated by volunteering to help meet immediate needs throughout the day.

To remove transportation barriers, Longview Transit offered free shuttle service to and from the event for those without reliable transportation. City officials are also encouraging community members looking to help to visit the City of Longview’s website for information on donating or supporting local efforts that serve the homeless population.

MARSHALL — A reported threat received by Wiley University earlier today has been investigated and determined to be not credible, according to the Marshall Police Department
(MPD).

Wiley University officials notified MPD after receiving an email referencing an “imminent threat.” Although the threat was ultimately deemed not credible, MPD responded immediately
and initiated a full investigation to ensure campus and public safety. MPD immediately coordinated with Wiley University President Herman Felton and his staff, along with Wiley
Police, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Continue reading Wiley University threat “not credible”

TYLER – Freezing temperatures are projected for Tyler and the surrounding areas from Friday, Jan. 23 through Monday, Jan. 26. City officials are monitoring the situation and strongly advise residents to watch the weather forecast, winterize their homes and safely use space heaters and generators. Emergency service capabilities are at full strength, and City departments are in frequent communication with each other to ensure that all necessary preparations are in place. The Tyler/Smith County’s Cold Weather Response Plan is available to review. Continue reading Tips for winter storm

TYLER – With a winter storm expected to impact East Texas this weekend, local shelters are opening their doors to serve as warming centers for residents in need. Our news partner KETK has put together a list of warming centers open to the public, with updates to follow as additional locations announce openings for the weekend. You can view that list here.

SMITH COUNTY — Our news partners at KETK report that a former Smith County Constable was sentenced to two years in jail on Tuesday after violating probation terms. Former Smith County Precinct 1 Constable Curtis Traylor-Harris was initially sentenced to five years of probation after being found guilty of theft while executing an eviction notice in December 2022. Traylor-Harris began his two-year sentence on Tuesday, after violating his probation. Continue reading Former constable sentenced

TYLER — An 18-wheeler truck from Utah delivered 42,000 pounds of mixed goods to the East Texas Food Bank (ETFB) in Tyler. The donation, totaling 25 pallets, was provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to support hunger relief efforts across East Texas. The donation from the Church is part of its ongoing global effort to help individuals struggling with urgent temporal concerns by addressing immediate hunger needs, supporting improved nutrition, and promoting long-term food security. The shipment includes a variety of mixed canned and boxed goods such as vegetables, chili, fruit, beef, peanut butter, dried milk, and numerous other items. Continue reading Food Bank gets big donation

EAST TEXAS – NETRMA will be preparing Toll 49 for the predicted winter weather hitting the area. Efforts include putting brine on bridges and main lanes throughout all of Toll 49. Communications Director Colleen Colby has tips for drivers who still need to hit the roads.

“We’d ask our drivers to be extremely cautious on bridges, overpasses, ramps and turns, any areas that might freeze first,” Colby said. “We’d ask all of our drivers to reduce speed, to allow extra time to reach their destination. Make sure you increase the distance between yourself and any other vehicles and should you start to slide, ease off the gas pedal or brakes and steer into the direction of the skid.”

For safety purposes, NETRMA is also asking drivers to stay back at least 200 feet from vehicles treating roadways, and most of all, be patient. Should anything happen, authorities urge drivers to stay in their vehicles. And if you’re stranded, make sure to call 911 to get the appropriate help that you may need.

RUSK — Former Rusk Police Chief Scott Heagney is seeking reinstatement after his termination earlier this month, according to a grievance filed with city leadership. According to our news partner KETK, Heagney, who was fired on Friday, has submitted an internal grievance to the city manager, mayor and city council requesting speedy and retroactive reinstatement. His attorney, David Schleicher of Waco, said the termination occurred while Heagney was actively cooperating with the city to schedule a required fitness-for-duty exam.

City officials previously said Heagney was terminated after an administrative review, citing that he was unavailable during duty hours while on administrative leave without requesting alternative leave.

“We look forward to Mr. Heagney immediately being returned to serving as Rusk Police Chief,” Schleicher said. “Though we believe the order for a fitness-for-duty exam was not justified, we will continue to cooperate in getting the exam scheduled and completed.” Continue reading Former police chief files grievance

TYLER – TxDOT crews continue to prepare for the  winter storm forecast for East Texas. Crews have been preparing roadways around the eight-county district for potentially icy conditions. Brine operations  on bridges and roadways susceptible to wind and ice started Wednesday.

I-20 and other major roadways were also treated with a brine solution consisting of salt and water designed to help slow the initial freezing on pavement.

Crews have readied equipment and materials and will continue to monitor the roadways throughout the weekend. Drivers should allow a safe traveling distance between their vehicles and the mobile convoys. Continue reading TxDOT treating roadways, caution drivers

TYLER – An estimated 1,000 students from Tyler High School and Legacy High School walked out of classes on Tuesday afternoon in protest of recent ICE activity. According to our news partner KETK, the protest remained peaceful and students who participated created signs and posters urging local law enforcement to end their partnership with ICE’s 287(g) program, which Smith County commissioners approved in February 2025.

Students who organized the protest stated that they would no longer sit idly and watch ICE terrorize communities nationwide. Tyler High English Teacher Stacy Brazill approved her students’ decisions to participate in the protest due to the fear and anxiety the presence of ICE in East Texas has created in their families. Continue reading Students walkout over ICE activity

TYLER – The Caldwell Zoo has welcomed the new year with six newborn greater kudu calves. The Caldwell Zoo had a successful year for its African hoofstock band, welcoming six female greater kudu calves in December. Several members of the herd became first-time mothers in 2025.

According to our news partner KETK, the zoo’s dedicated veterinary team and animal keepers worked diligently to ensure the mothers are comfortable and recovering well.

With all of the calves being born during December, it was crucial to make sure the zoo staff jumped in quickly to keep them safe and warm during the first few weeks of their lives. Most of the calves are being bottle-fed at this time to get their necessary nutrients as moms, babies and the herd adjust to these new additions. Continue reading Caldwell Zoo welcomes six antelope calves

RUSK — More than a month has passed since 57-year-old David Blount disappeared in Cherokee County, leaving his family in a daily struggle for answers amid growing heartache. With no leads, family members said law enforcement does not know where to search anymore and are now urging people to come forward with any information.

Jessica Blount and Justin Blount, David’s niece and nephew spoke with KETK News and mentioned that David would sometimes go for periods without communicating with family members. However, this time it raised immediate red flags. Family members said David goes on fishing trips to Lake Striker but always lets his neighbor know to watch his home. His red truck was discovered along the Neches River four days after he went missing. His family found it strange since he typically fished at lakes rather than rivers and no fishing pole was found in his truck.

Additionally, a kayak was located, but they mentioned that he hadn’t gone kayaking in years. Continue reading Blount’s family pleads for information